Harness



(No Model.)

B. K. BLAI-KIE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDlVIN K. BLAIKIE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,421, dated August19, 1890.

Application filed October 30. 1839- Serial No, 328,617. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN K. BLAIKIE, of Soinerville, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovementin Harness, of which the following, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to a device which may be used as a martingale andas ahitchingstrap.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents a saddle-horse having aharness provided with this combined martingale and hitching-strap. Fig.2 is a plan view of the front of this device. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe rear end thereof and of a section of th e belly-band, to which it isconnected. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the rear end of this device in amodified form in connect-ion with the belly-band.

The bit-strap a is provided with snap-hooks e.at its opposite ends forengagement with the bit at opposite sides thereof, said strapconstituting the looped front portion of the martingale orhitching-strap. A strapb, constituting the rear portion of themartingale, is attached at its front end to the center of this strap orloop a and provided at .its rear end with a snap-hook e. The belly-bandg is provided with a laterally-projecting loop g, which carries an eye fadapted to be engaged by the snap-hook e. The straps a and b arepreferably constructed of flexible wire cord and connected by a metalliccoupling 0, but

if desired these straps may be composed of leather, and the rear end ofthe strap 1) may be provided with a buckle "L and perforations for thetongue of the buckle, whereby a loop it maybe formed in lieu of and asanequivalent for the snap-hook e.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The martingale, ofeitherform shown is connected by one end to the bit in the usual manner,but at the other end, instead of the belly-band or hold-down strap beingthreaded through a fixed loop formed on the end of the martingale, as isusual, the belly-band or holddown strap has secured thereto at theproper point a ring or loop, as f, and the detachable or opening loop,as the snap-hook e, or the loop-strap h on the martingale is made toengage With said ringor loop f. lVhen it is desired to stop and leavethe horse, the hook e or strap h is disconnected from the bellyband orhold-down strap and secured to the hitching-post by snapping said hookupon the ring on said post, or, in the case of the leather martingale,buckling the strap h into said ring, all as shown in dotted lines inFig. 1.

The advantage of this invention is that Whenever the horse is properlysaddled or harnessed for use there is always upon him a convenient andsure means of hitching him, and one that can be very much quickerbrought into use than an ordinary halter that is stowed awayin thecarriage; and in case of the saddle-horse it is a still greateradvantage, for-the reason that a ready means of hitching is always athand without disfiguring the horse or his paraphernalia by means of aspecial hitching-strap or halter which must be worn by the horse forlack of asuitable place to hide it.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

A combined martingale and hitching-strap, consisting of a bit-strap.provided with snaphooks at its ends for attachment to the bit, and astrap connected at one end to the center of said bit-strap and providedat the other end with a snap-hook or' its equivalent for attachment tothe belly-band or hitching-post.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 28th day of October, A.D. 1889. I

EDWVIN K. BLAIKIE.

\Vitnesses:

N. C. LOMBARD, C. A. MCOLURE.

